Parsons Paris Supports the White House Initiative for Study Abroad and Global Citizenship

#StudyAbroadBecause global education will help us design a better future. #ParsonsParis

On December 9, 2014 the White House held a Summit for Study Abroad and Global Citizenship to announce a new U.S. Office of Study Abroad. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Evan Ryan, pointed out “Travel opens doors for young people to cross socio-economic, cultural, and geographic borders to engage in people-to-people connections, to increase mutual understanding, and collectively solve global challenges.”

Parsons Paris Dean, Susan Taylor-Leduc acknowledges “As the cost of college education, and especially a design education is increasingly scrutinized, it may appear that study abroad is elitist, but in our hyper-connected world we need designers who can communicate globally and understand cultural diversity. At Parsons Paris we have been supporting international education for almost a century. Global education is essential to help us design a better future.”

Since 1898, Parsons has been sending students to study in Paris, and in 1921, Parsons became the first American art and design school to establish a campus in Paris. Parsons Paris is the European academic center for Parsons The New School for Design in NYC and its university, The New School, which was founded in 1919 out of principles of academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation, along with a commitment to social and global engagement.